Vehicle traffic signal



June 25, 1929. Y, MORIMOf 1,718,659

VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed June 25, 1928 i3 IN1/imam:

YASA suizo Memmam.

BYATTY:

liatented `lune 25, 1929.

UNH'ED STATES YASABURO MORIMOTO, OF LGS ANGELES, CALEEOISLNIA.

vnnienn Triennio sientan.

Application leil [fune 25, 1928. Serial No. 5583.135.

rllhis invention relates to automoliilel signals, and its object to provide such a/sigiiial which is effective :in operation and cheap to manufacture.

lin carrying out my invention, I provide a bracket adapted to be secured to the side ot an automobile, a casing pivotally connected to the bracket, a lazy-tong projecting mechanism adapted to be extended trom the casing, a 'fabric signal. carried by the laf/.ytong mechanism, elements for' actuating the lazy-tong mechanism, and means for illuminating the fabric signal when inl the die play position, the mechanism including :meansI for shifting the signal to angular indicating positions after it has been projected from the casing.

rlll/ie invention is directed particularly to an improvement in traffic signals, and particularly to a specific operating means in connection with a trailie signal described. and claimed in United States Patent, No. 1,567,539, issued to me on the 29th day ot December, 1925.

1t is my purpose to provide a device of the type set 'forth which will embrace the desired features oit simplicity, eiiiciency, and durability, which will effectively display the desired signals, and wherein the component parts are so arranged as to reduce the posn sibility of derangement to a minimum.

It is to be understood that the structural enibodiment of the invention a whole and its various features as shown is merely illustrative and .not restrictive. I therelore do not desire to be limited in these particulars except as set 'forth in the appended claims.

,ln the drawings: lligure 1 is a longitudinal and sectional view of a signal device embody'fing the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a trent elevation ot the signal housing. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the signal housing, and shows a portion ot the supporting` means. Fig. t is a plan and sectional view oi.l the signal housing and actuating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation oit the device. Fig. (l is a diagram oit the wiring and electric eleniients.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the housing 15, has a cover 16, and front aper tures 17 and 18, the apertures 18 being` provided with transparent closures 19. Housing 15, has a U-shaped supporting member 20, on the back thereot, and has inner partitions 21. A U-shaped supporting member 22,A pivotally connected with member 20, in adapted to be secured to bracket 23, or to some portion of the automobile.

Partition members 21, divide the interior into compartments 2/1 and 25. Wlithin compartments 241, l provide retlcctors 141, and in. compartment 25, l provide rollers 26. An articulate member 527, of lazy-tong censtruction, is mounted in compartment 25; its :inner elements 28, being` pivotally connected on pivot members 29, and `its outer elements 30, pivotally connected to member 31, on bar 3Q. Fabric element 33 winds on rollers 2li, and has its central part con nected to bar 32. Rollers 2G, are operatively mounted on :l'iXed shafts Bel, and are actuated by silirings 35, each spring' having one end lined to the shatt and the opposite end to a roller. A plunger 36 is connected at one end to the movable semaphore elements by a pivotal element 37, and slides through a crosshead 8S, integral with .niiember 20. 'lhe plunger has on the opposite end. the pivot 39.

rllhe sliding movement of plunger 36, outwardly, actuates the semaphore to display position, the same being projected horizontally 'from the housing. For actuating the plunger, I provide a link L10, slidable through rotative member 41, which has :iixed thereto a bracket 1 -Q, having a pivotal extremity 113, to which is connected the operating handle tt. A rotatable but non-slidable erosshead 45 isnioimted on link 40, and links 4:6 connect the extremity di', 03": handle Ll/l,^\vith crosshead h15. Member d1 is rotatably mounted in member Q2 and in a corretmoiuling member 418. On the opposite end oit member 11, l provide a. gear 49, constantl y in mesh with `gear 50, iixed to membei' 20. Movement olf the handle l1at,ser`ves to actuate link e0, and plunger 36, thereby actuating the semaphore to display position. Movement of the handle, with reference to the axis oi member 1, serves to actuate the semaphore to angular display positions relative to ,its initial display position.

The semaphme is adapted to be illuminated both by day and by night. Means tor accomplishing this, consist of incandescent bulbs 51, mounted in coinpartn'ients 24. Electric conductors 52 and 53 are comiected to suitable grounds and to battery 57, and to bulbs 51, whereby the bulbs are energized.

A switch 511, mo'l'lnted on bracket 4:2, is in.-

terposed in conductor 52, and has a plunger lll?) 55, actuated to closed position by cani 56, depending from handle 44, the cam becoming operative as the semaphore approaches its display position. Switch plunger 55 is spring-actuated to inoperative position when released by cam 56. For determining the operative positions, handle bracket 43 is provided with slidable plunger 58, actuated by switch, thereby illuminating the spring 59, and adapted to engage with recesses G0, Gl and 62, in member 48. Projections 64 serve to limit movement of handle 44 in either direction. The fabric element 33, maybe colored as desired, being preferably a red color.

In use, the operator first shifts the handle to project the semaphore outwardly from the housing. This movement closes the semaphore.

hould other signals be desired, the operator shifts the handle through a vertical are of movement, thereby shifting the semaphore to upwardly or downwardly inclined positions.

From the Vforegoing description and drawings, it may be seen that I have provided. a simple and eicient device for displaying traflic signals adapted for motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a housing, a supporting bracket, a. pivotal connection between the housing and supporting bracket whereby the housing may be shifted to angular positions in a vertical plane, collapsible semaphore elements mounted within the housing, a plunger connected to the collapsible elements, a fabric semaphore Yelement connected to the collapsible elements and actuated thereby to display position, rollers disposed in the housing, said fabric element being connected to the rollers, springs arranged to actu'atc the rollers whereby to wind up the fabric element, a member rotatively mounted relative to its supporting means, a link slidable through the rotative member, a bracket lixed to the rotatable member, a handle pivotally connected relative to the bracket, a crosshmld on the slidable link, other links connecting the erosshead and handle, said slidable link being pivotally connected to said plunger, a gear connection between the said rotatable member and said housing', and means for limiting the rotary movement ot said rotatable member.

2. A supporting bracket, a. casing operatively connected thereto, and movable through a vertical. and arcuate nient," a collapsible lazy-tong mechanism mounted in the casing, means for )rejecting the collapsible mechanism from tille easing, including -a handle, a plunger connected lo the lazy-tong mechanism, and a link connecting the handle and plunger, a fabric element connected to the collapsible mechanism, rollers mounted within the casing, said fabric. element being connected to the rollers, slgirings to actuate the rollers whereby to wind the fabric thereon, and other meehanism operated by said handle, whereby to actuate said casing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

YASABURO MORIMOTO.

path of move-A (ill 

